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And a Winnipeg Blue Bombers offence trying to delete the memory of last season won't enjoy chewing on these from its season-opener, last Thursday: 11 first downs, just two along the ground; 38 yards rushing; 3.8 yards per carry; and, worst of all, five turnovers.

Actually, there's one other number that might set off an alarm bell or two: the Bombers, the kings of the two-and-out in 2012, had 12 more of them in losing 38-33 to Montreal.

That actually includes a couple of three-and-outs, one with a holding penalty thrown in, another a turnover on downs at the end of the game.

Head coach Tim Burke called the first half "anemic" the other day. He could have used that label for all but one quarter, the third.

The CFL's lowest producing offence (yards and points) a year ago was supposed to look a lot different under offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton's new system.

Aside from a 15-minute flurry, it didn't.

And that's what Burke most wanted to improve as the Bombers returned to practice, Sunday, with their eyes on Thursday's rematch in Montreal.

"Our passing game," Burke said, getting specific. "Our run will be there if our passing game is a little better."

The man assigned with the task has no small amount of pressure on him this season.

Crowton took a painful year to learn this game, then poured himself into it over the winter. Every week the results aren't there, the spotlight will shift more in his direction.

We know Burke's a fan -- he's already called Crowton a future head coach in this league, if he wants to be.

Bomber fans just want him to become a good co-ordinator, first.

"I didn't like our slow start," Crowton said, joining the chorus. "That interception on the first play was a downer. But the end of the second half we learned some things, so when we came out in the third quarter we played really well. Next thing we gotta do is finish the game strong."

A couple of first downs in the fourth quarter, especially when the Bombers were pinned down at their own goal line, would have gone a long way to winning the game.

Burke called out quarterback Buck Pierce for not finding open receivers, and Crowton figures that'll change.

"Buck will end up seeing those things," he said. "He knew right away, as soon as plays were over. That's a good sign. We'll get that fixed."

As for the non-existent running game, Crowton was coy about how many times he wants Chad Simpson to touch the ball.

It depends on the game, he said.

"We probably could have run the ball a little more with Chad. We had a lot of run-pass combinations on. They just forced a lot of those to passes. This plan will be a little bit different. Because we do have a good run game -- we just have to use it.

And a Winnipeg Blue Bombers offence trying to delete the memory of last season won't enjoy chewing on these from its season-opener, last Thursday: 11 first downs, just two along the ground; 38 yards rushing; 3.8 yards per carry; and, worst of all, five turnovers.

Actually, there's one other number that might set off an alarm bell or two: the Bombers, the kings of the two-and-out in 2012, had 12 more of them in losing 38-33 to Montreal.

That actually includes a couple of three-and-outs, one with a holding penalty thrown in, another a turnover on downs at the end of the game.

Head coach Tim Burke called the first half "anemic" the other day. He could have used that label for all but one quarter, the third.

The CFL's lowest producing offence (yards and points) a year ago was supposed to look a lot different under offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton's new system.